Sen. Lindsey Graham To Vote To Confirm Sotomayor

South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham announced he will vote to confirm Sonia Sotomayor to the high court. Graham’s support is a bellwether of how bipartisan the eventual vote will be.

Graham’s announcement may have consequences as well. Had he gone the other way, it would have signaled that Republicans were gearing for as close to a party-line vote on the nomination as achievable. But his support ensures that Sotomayor will be voted out of the Judiciary Committee next week with some bipartisan backing — which would provide some political cover for others in the Republican caucus who decide to vote for her. Her confirmation appears virtually certain, as Democrats hold a 60-vote supermajority in the Senate.

Four other GOP senators have vowed to vote to confirm Sotomayor and others are expected to do so.